Schistosomiasis is endemic in some parts of northern Namibia and there is
a control program in the country with the use of mass drug administration
to control and prevent the disease. On the 1st March, 2016, there
was a report of bloody urine among primary school pupils in a school in
Omusati region, Namibia. A team of health professionals was dispatched
to investigate. This case study describes steps in conducting a schistosomiasis
outbreak
investigation
and how to determine the risk factors. This describes how to calculate
both the basic and analytical measures of association with 95% confidence
intervals.
This case study provides a step-by-step approach and can be used as a tool
to teach the fundamental principles of outbreak investigation and response
and how to measure the appropriate measures of association. This case study
is targeted at intermediate- and advanced-level residents of the Field
Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program and other epidemiology trainees.

How to use this case study

General instructions: ideally, 1 to 2 instructors facilitate the case study for 15 students in a classroom or conference room. The instructor should direct participants to read a paragraph out loud, going around the room to give each participant a chance to read. When the participant reads a question, the instructor directs all participants to perform calculations, construct graphs, or engage in discussions. The instructor may split the class to play different roles or take different sides in answering a question. As a result, participants learn from each other, not just from the instructors. There are also specific instructor’s notes that are included with each question in the instructor’s version of this case study.

Audience: residents in the 9-month intermediate and the 2-year advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP), Masters of Public Health Training Programs, and others who are interested in this topic.

Prerequisites: before using this case study, participants should have received lectures or other instruction in outbreak investigation, epidemiological study designs and measures of association.